Chris Darlington has been tased on the job. He has also sat alone in a room with a guitar, written a song, and felt something that made him cry for 30 minutes straight, and he says the Holy Spirit that day had the taser beat. That song was Let Them In, and it changed the direction of his artistry. He is a deputy school resource officer in Virginia, Patsy Cline's hometown, and he is trying to become the first active-duty deputy sheriff to earn a Billboard Country Airplay hit while still serving in uniform.

From nine rejected demos to a radio hit, from law enforcement to opening for national acts, and a deal he made with God: Chris shares how his wife's offhand comment gave him the title What Do You Want, how a radio promoter in California stomped his feet at midnight when he finally heard the right song, and why he is already at number 81 on the media-based country chart and climbing. He also talks about how he tithes his stage time, reserving one song per show to sing about Jesus and talk about his faith, and why he believes God is the only one who can move the mountain the rest of the way.

Highlights
The night he sat down to write a country radio hit and felt the Holy Spirit hit him harder than a 25,000-volt taser
How his wife's offhand comment — "what do you want would be a good song title" — became his first charting single after nine rejected demos
Why he connected with radio promoter Louis Newman, the story behind Drew Baldridge's independent number one, and why he followed the same playbook
His goal of becoming the first active-duty deputy sheriff to earn a Billboard Country Airplay hit while still serving in uniform
Where he is on the chart right now, number 81, halfway to the number 50 threshold where you are officially considered charted
How he grew up drawing pictures of Jesus at age four, drifted in young adulthood, and now describes his faith as stronger than it has ever been
Why he gives his tithe by taking one song per headlining set to perform about Jesus and speak about his faith
Opening for national acts like Aaron Tippin and Warren Zeiders while still clocking in at the sheriff's department during the week

Resources / Links / CTA
🌐 Chris Darlington website: https://chrisdarlington.com
📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisdarlingtonmusic
🎵 Single: What Do You Want
🎵 New single: Do It Anyway, releasing October 30
🌐 Follow, share, and explore more of Crosswalk Talk
👉 Follow, share, and subscribe for more faith-driven conversations on Lifeaudio



Click to Listen to Signs of Life: UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was—and is—an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.

UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Chris Darlington has been tased on the job. He has also sat alone in a room with a guitar, written a song, and felt something that made him cry for 30 minutes straight, and he says the Holy Spirit that day had the taser beat. That song was Let Them In, and it changed the direction of his artistry. He is a deputy school resource officer in Virginia, Patsy Cline's hometown, and he is trying to become the first active-duty deputy sheriff to earn a Billboard Country Airplay hit while still serving in uniform.
From nine rejected demos to a radio hit, from law enforcement to opening for national acts, and a deal he made with God: Chris shares how his wife's offhand comment gave him the title What Do You Want, how a radio promoter in California stomped his feet at midnight when he finally heard the right song, and why he is already at number 81 on the media-based country chart and climbing. He also talks about how he tithes his stage time, reserving one song per show to sing about Jesus and talk about his faith, and why he believes God is the only one who can move the mountain the rest of the way.
Highlights
<ul dir="ltr">
<li>The night he sat down to write a country radio hit and felt the Holy Spirit hit him harder than a 25,000-volt taser</li>
<li>How his wife's offhand comment &mdash; "what do you want would be a good song title" &mdash; became his first charting single after nine rejected demos</li>
<li>Why he connected with radio promoter Louis Newman, the story behind Drew Baldridge's independent number one, and why he followed the same playbook</li>
<li>His goal of becoming the first active-duty deputy sheriff to earn a Billboard Country Airplay hit while still serving in uniform</li>
<li>Where he is on the chart right now, number 81, halfway to the number 50 threshold where you are officially considered charted</li>
<li>How he grew up drawing pictures of Jesus at age four, drifted in young adulthood, and now describes his faith as stronger than it has ever been</li>
<li>Why he gives his tithe by taking one song per headlining set to perform about Jesus and speak about his faith</li>
<li>Opening for national acts like Aaron Tippin and Warren Zeiders while still clocking in at the sheriff's department during the week</li>
</ul>
Resources / Links / CTA
<ul dir="ltr">
<li>🌐 Chris Darlington website: <a href="https://chrisdarlington.com/home">https://chrisdarlington.com</a></li>
<li>📱 Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chrisdarlingtonmusic/">https://www.instagram.com/chrisdarlingtonmusic</a></li>
<li>🎵 Single: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/5DlVVvzNgaE4RnEw8LPig3">What Do You Want</a></li>
<li>🎵 New single: Do It Anyway, releasing October 30</li>
<li>🌐 Follow, share, and explore more of <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/podcasts/crosswalk-talk-celebrity-christian-interviews/">Crosswalk Talk</a></li>
<li>👉 Follow, share, and subscribe for more faith-driven conversations on <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/">Lifeaudio</a> </li>
</ul>
Click to Listen to&nbsp;Signs of Life: <a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/um-news-podcast-season-one">UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org</a>
Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was&mdash;and is&mdash;an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.
<a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/um-news-podcast-season-one">UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org</a>

Join us each week on Crosswalk Talk where we interview your favorite Christian celebrities. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment.

Some of our favorite interviews include:

⭐️ Chrissy Metz and Bradley Collins Discuss Their Heartwarming Children's Book on Prayer

⭐️ Patricia Heaton and David Hunt Talk Faith, Life and Their Adoption Film Unexpected

⭐️ Willie and Korie Robertson Open Up About The Blind and the Generational Impact of Faith

⭐️ Phil Wickham Talks New Album, Songwriting, and the Deconstruction Movement

Let us know what famous Christian celebrities you want us to interview for the show!

Join us each week on Crosswalk Talk where we interview your favorite Christian celebrities. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment.
Some of our favorite interviews include:
⭐️ Chrissy Metz and Bradley Collins Discuss Their Heartwarming Children's Book on Prayer
⭐️ Patricia Heaton and David Hunt Talk Faith, Life and Their Adoption Film Unexpected
⭐️ Willie and Korie Robertson Open Up About The Blind and the Generational Impact of Faith
⭐️ Phil Wickham Talks New Album, Songwriting, and the Deconstruction Movement
Let us know what famous Christian celebrities you want us to interview for the show!

Join us each week on Crosswalk Talk where we interview your favorite Christian celebrities. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment.

Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews

Join us each week on Crosswalk Talk where we interview your favorite Christian celebrities. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment.
Some of our favorite interviews include:
⭐️ Chrissy Metz and Bradley Collins Discuss Their Heartwarming Children's Book on Prayer
⭐️ Patricia Heaton and David Hunt Talk Faith, Life and Their Adoption Film Unexpected
⭐️ Willie and Korie Robertson Open Up About The Blind and the Generational Impact of Faith
⭐️ Phil Wickham Talks New Album, Songwriting, and the Deconstruction Movement
Let us know what famous Christian celebrities you want us to interview for the show!

Chris Darlington Was Hit by the Holy Spirit Harder Than a 25,000-Volt Taser

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/39252a2c-7fb2-4862-b20d-b4dd011e24b1/transcript